1850 : The First Criminal Protection
The Grammont law is the first law for the penal protection of animals. It introduces the notion of sanction. The deputy and General Jacques Delmas de Grammont, sensitive to the cause of war horses and animals mistreated in the street, has a law passed which establishes: "will be punished by a fine of five to fifteen francs, and may be from one to five days in prison, those who have publicly and abusively exercised mistreatment of domestic animals ". In 1959, the Michelet decree repealed the Grammont law and extended the penalties for mistreatment to the private sector.
1963 : Cruelty to animals becomes a crime
The 1963 law then effectively creates the offense of an act of cruelty. It concerns domestic animals tamed or held in captivity. Wild animals are not taken into account in this law. The perpetrators face harsher correctional penalties, whether they act in the public or private spheres.
1976 : Recognition of Animal Sensitivity
In 1976, animals were considered to be sensitive in the Rural Code. Article L214-1 establishes that "any animal being a sentient being must be placed by its owner in conditions compatible with the biological requirements of its species." The article will inspire the name of the animal rights association L214. However, the animal remains considered at that time in the Civil Code as property, movable or immovable by destination.
1999 : The Conditions of Sale of Animals Stricter
The law of January 6, 1999 notably modifies the conditions of the pound, and requires that each municipality has a municipal pound, or the service of an impound established in another municipality. The activities of pound, refuge, breeding, sale, boarding, education, training are regulated. The conditions of sale of an animal become strictter, with the ban on selling puppies and kittens under 8 weeks old. The law also punishes more severely the perpetrators of abuse or acts of cruelty by going up to two years in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros (instead of six months and 15,000 previously). A 2004 law then defines the same penalties for abuse of a sexual nature.
2015 : The animal becomes a Sensitive being in the Civil Code
February 16, 2015 is one of the big dates for animal rights. Article 515-14 of the Civil Code establishes that the animal is considered a "living being endowed with sensitivity" in the Civil Code. It was previously considered "movable property" or "immovable by destination". This should allow better application of existing law.
2018 : The First Animal Code
Appearance of the first animal legal code in France. This is a European first. The animal code brings together all the texts related to animal rights and dispersed in the different codes of French law (Civil Code, Penal Code, Rural and Maritime Fishing Code, etc.). It was created by experts in animal law in association with the 30 Millions d'Amis foundation.
en droit animalier en association avec la fondation 30 Millions d'Amis.
2020 : End of live castration of piglets
In January 2020, the Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume announced a series of new measures concerning the improvement of animal protection and welfare. One of them provides for the end of live castration of piglets from 2021, practiced for breeding. The government also promised "as early as 2020" that it "will" step up action against pet abandonment, including preventing impulse buying. " Responsible in particular for this file, the deputy Loïc Dombreval (LREM) submitted 121 proposals last June to the Minister of Agriculture. The proposals must be analyzed by the ministry, which will present a "road map" at the end of the year.